GIWA played a featured role recently at the World Toilet Summit, which was attended by several senior cabinet ministers and representatives of dozens of multinationals, NGOs and international governmental organizations. During the proceedings, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, co-founder/chairman of GIWA, pledged to build a toilet complex at the renowned Sufi Shrine, Ajmer Dargah Sharif with Shri Dewan Sahib, a huge move in not only sanitation but in interfaith unity for the betterment of society.
Pujya Swamiji said “no longer can we as leaders stand idly as countless children suffer simply because they don’t have access to healthy water, sanitation and hygiene. Together, let us pledge to lead a new revolution: a WASH Revolution, for our children, our society and our future.”
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary-General of GIWA, spoke about the role of religion and faith in the sanitation solution and discussed the need for a 3 pronged approach: Inspiration, Implementation and Participation. Inspiration (by faith leaders, religious congregations, national leaders, social leaders, celebrities) to create the awareness of the need for sanitation and to create a wave of demand. Implementation (by Gov’t, NGOs, private sector) in actually installing toilets, sewage systems,and other necessities, and Participation by the general public, by using toilets, not polluting, and saving water.
